At least 637 civilians were killed in massacres across Myanmar between May and August last year, according to a report released on 8 October by the Nyan Lin Thit Analytica Group.
The group documented 68 incidents of mass killings defined as events claiming five or more civilian lives across 38 townships nationwide. The perpetrators included the Myanmar junta, armed resistance groups, and unidentified armed actors.
Of the 68 incidents, 66 were attributed to the junta that seized power in the 2021 coup, while one incident remains unconfirmed. One case involved a targeted attack by resistance forces that killed relatives of junta personnel, the report stated.
Airstrikes carried out by the junta accounted for the largest number of civilian deaths, with 39 incidents, followed by 13 cases of killings during ground incursions. Five more incidents of mass casualties were recorded during clashes between junta forces and armed resistance groups.
According to the report, Sagaing Region recorded the highest number of civilian deaths, with over 200 people killed in multiple incidents. Northern Shan State, Magway, Bago (East), and Tanintharyi regions saw the third-highest number of civilian deaths, with victims killed by artillery fire, airstrikes, and military raids.
The report also cited a mass casualty event in Mandalay Region resulting from a prison bombing.
The Nyan Lin Thit Analytica Group said most of the killings were linked to operations by the Myanmar junta and pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militias, who entered villages near revolutionary strongholds and People’s Defence Force (PDF) areas. These groups reportedly carried out mass arrests, sexual violence, executions, village burnings, and used civilians as human shields before killing them.
The findings were based on press statements from revolutionary organizations and data compiled from 40 independent media outlets.
According to Nyan Lin Thit Analytica, civilian deaths in mass killing incidents have steadily increased since the coup: 570 in 2021, 612 in 2022, 939 in 2023, 1,484 in 2024, and 1,122 from January to August 2025.
